Instagram is filled with weddings and portraits captured in stunning locations — but what about the places that aren’t so obviously beautiful? Photographers have a unique ability to find beauty where the average person wouldn’t even glance twice. This week, we’re featuring four beautiful photographs — each taken in a challenging photo location — from abandoned buildings to cramped bathrooms to the lesser-seen side of a theatre. Find inspiration in these Photos of the Week by Kristina Daugherty, Katrina Joseph, Ezekiel Dela Cruz, and Emma Warley.

Kristina Daugherty, KJBoudoir Photography

When Kristina Daugherty of KJBoudoir Photography wanted to capture a photo outside her usual wheelhouse, she took this ballerina to an abandoned historical mansion in Farmville, Virginia. Her idea was to capture the contrast between the graceful dancer and the dilapidated structure. This particular image was shot in the attic of the home with a Nikon Z9 and a 50mm f1.2 lens.

“In shooting at a site that is abandoned and falling down, there are numerous challenges associated,” Daugherty says. “Obstacles we had to work around were excessive heat, a ton of broken glass, unstable flooring, extreme unclean conditions and animals making homes within the house — just to name a few. We were very aware of our surroundings and each area we chose to shoot in. For example, we used a broom to clear some of the floor prior to getting the model in place. We didn’t work too long in areas that were too hot, and I certainly didn’t want to photograph near any nests that had been established. Additionally, shoes were always worn when walking around the house.”

Katrina Joseph, Katrina S. Joseph Photography

Small spaces often present unique challenges for photographers. For this elopement, the couple got ready in a small cabin AirBnB. Katrina Joseph of Katrina S. Joseph Photography, however, used the small space to tell a story of how the couple got ready for their day — with the groom waiting patiently for his turn in the small bathroom. The documentary moment, black-and-white edit, and balanced composition gives the image emotional weight. She captured the shot with the Canon R6 and a 35mm lens.

“This photo was taken in a very small cabin with narrow hallways,” Joseph says. “There wasn’t a ton of space to move around, so I mostly had to take photos from the hallway outside the room as they got ready. Instead of trying to hide how small the space was, I wanted to use the walls, doors, and tight corners to create interesting compositions. As with most shoots in a challenging photo location, creativity is always key in overcoming those difficulties!”

Ezekiel Dela Cruz, Ezekiel Photography LLC

An abandoned industrial site adds rugged contrast to the formalwear of the bride and groom in this shot by Ezekiel Dela Cruz of Ezekiel Photography LLC. Inspired by the lines and weathered facade of the building, he wanted to use the setting to create a story of resilience and beauty among urban decay. He captured the shot with a Sony a7 III and a Sigma 35mm lens.

“The location presented several challenges, particularly the numerous distractions in the environment, such as cluttered backgrounds and uneven textures,” he says. “To overcome these challenges, I focused on using the lines of the infrastructure to guide the viewer’s eye directly to the couple. By honing in on my composition, I was able to emphasize the connection between the subjects and the setting, creating a visually compelling image that stands out despite the challenging surroundings.”

Emma Warley, Emma and Rich

While the Stephen Joseph Theatre served as an iconic backdrop for this double wedding, off the main stage the location didn’t have much light, making it a challenging photo location. Still, Emma Warley of Emma + Rich, wanted to capture the couples in the rows of red seats since after the reception the four of them and their guests attended a play in the theatre. Warley added her Godox V1 flash to her Canon 5D Mark III and Sigma 24mm f1.4 lens.

“This photo was taken in the McCarthy stage of the Stephen Joseph Theatre,” she says. “It’s mostly used as a cinema screen, and we used the original cinema seating. The stage was lit for the ceremony, but the seats were mostly in darkness. The lack of light in some areas of the space is challenging, and I did have to use flash for the portraits when there was no stage lighting available. I used direct flash as there was nowhere suitable to bounce the light as the ceiling was very high.”

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: [email protected].